In Dinajpur, known as the land of litchis, green fruitlets are peeping out between the leaves. Orchard sales have already picked up, with traders arriving from different parts of the country.

So far litchi growers have not faced any adverse weather. The rain on 13 April has been a blessing for them, so growers hope the fruit that has set will develop well.

According to the Dinajpur office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), litchis worth about Tk 1,000 crore will be produced this year. Private estimates, however, put production at double that, worth about Tk 2,000 crore.

Across the district, clusters of fruitlets are hanging from trees in orchards and in the homesteads and courtyards of almost every house.

Hasan Ali, a litchi grower in Sadar upazila, said there was less blossom this year, but what came set fruit well. Rain two days ago also helped the litchis, and many more traders have come to buy orchards this time.

Haidar Ali, a grower in Birol upazila, said the first round of orchard sales is over and another will take place when the fruit ripens. The fruit set is good, but China Three will yield less. The notable Dinajpur varieties are China Three, Bedana, Bombai, Madrazi and Kathali.

Khalilur Rahman, an orchard owner in Chirirbandar upazila, said China Three yields have been falling for the past two or three years and this year there is hardly any. He has cut down a few trees in front of his house.

Shah Sultan Abdur Rahman, an orchard owner from Banhara village in No 5 Chatail union of Bochaganj upazila, said good weather brought a good fruit set, and after two years he has been able to sell his orchard early.

Jidan Chandra Shil, an orchard owner in Kaharol upazila, said the weather is still favourable and it rained two days ago after fruit set. If the fruit on the trees holds, he hopes for a good yield.

Md Anisuzzaman, additional deputy director (crops) of the DAE in Dinajpur, said growers are being advised regularly on which pesticide to use and when.

He said the target for litchi cultivation in Dinajpur this year is 6,500 hectares, and production will exceed its target at 35,000 tonnes, with a market value of more than Tk 1,000 crore.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.